“It is absolutely necessary that we keep Saipan running. CUC is repairing our electric system as best as it can, but until that job is done, we need temporary power from Aggreko and we need the ability to buy parts and labor quickly to meet our emergencies,” said the governor.
CUC has yet to fully comply with the environmental regulations for the rented generators which went online early September, ending the daily two-hour load shedding.
The renewed executive order recognizes the need to suspend local air quality regulations to keep Aggreko’s generators from running.
Additionally, it will allow the immediate emergency procurement of goods and services for CUC under the executive director’s approval.
The governor said this is necessary “in order to stave off a potentially disastrous failure of a transformer that feeds power to the south side of Saipan.”
CUC cannot get necessary warranty work done on the backup because it still owes $180,000 to the supplier. The failure of the operating unit could plunge the south end of Saipan into lengthy blackouts, including the water wells in the Airport area and the Agingan Point sewage treatment facilities,” he said.
“This emergency procurement authority also addresses the prospect of the collapse of Lower Base’s Tank 104 and its 400,000 gallons of used diesel oil, just meters away from the Lagoon. CUC continues to ask for the flexibility to empty the tank as soon as possible,” he added.
The Legislature recently passed measure restricting the scope of the governor’s executive powers to declare a government autonomous agency under a state of emergency.
The restriction limits the declaration to mandate and natural disasters but not the agency’s financial hardship.
The governor said he will ask the Legislature to reconsider the bill which now awaits his action.
“I need these constitutional tools to protect the people of the CNMI from rolling blackouts and other major emergencies facing our Commonwealth during this challenging period in our history,” he said.
